Three months after Israel had gone forth from Egypt, they came into the wilderness of Sinai, pitched their tents and camped before the mount. Moses went up before God, and was instructed as to what to tell the people. God told him to tell the people... “You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles wings, and brought you unto myself. Now if you will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation”. These are the words God spoke to Moses to tell the people, which Moses did. All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do,” ( Ex. 19:8). And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. This is the point where Grace was given up for Law.

Exodus 19-40 introduces us to the dispensation of the Law through the covenant of Moses, which extends from Sinai to Calvary...from Exodus to the Cross, (from Ex. 19:8 to Mt. 27:35). This Theocracy era is known as the “Glory of His Word” period.
 
The history of Israel and later in the land, is one long record of the violation of the law. The testing of the nations by law ended in the judgment of the Captivities, but the dispensation itself ended at the Cross.  (1) Man's state at the beginning (Ex. 19:1-4). (2) His responsibility (Ex. 19:5-6, Rom. 10:5). (3) His failure (2 Kings 17:7-17, 19; Acts 2:22-23). (4) The judgment (2 Kings 17:1-6, 20;25:1-11; Luke 21:20-24).

The Mosaic Covenant is given to Israel in three divisions, each essential to the others, and together forms the Mosiac Covenant:

1. The Commandments: expressing the righteous will of God (Ex. 20:1-26).
2. The Judgments: governing the social life of Israel (Ex. 21:1-24, 11).
3. The Ordinances: governing the religious life of Israel (Ex. 24:12-31, 18).

These three elements form “the law,” as that phrase is generally used in the New Testament (Mt. 5:17-18). The commandments and the ordinances formed one religious system. The Commandments were a “ministry of condemnation” and “death” (2 Cor. 3:7-9); the ordinances gave, in the high priest, a representative of the people with Jehovah; and in the sacrifices a “cover” for their sins in anticipation of the Cross, (Heb. 5:1-3; 9:6-9; Rom. 3:25-26). The Judgments dealt with relationships between masters and servants, personal injuries, rights of property, and crimes against humanity (Ex. 21, 22).

There was a threefold giving of the law: (1) Orally, in Ex.20:1-17. This was pure law with no provision of priesthood and sacrifice for failure, and was accompanied by the “judgments” (Ex. 21:1-23, 13) relating to the relations of Hebrew with Hebrew; to which were added directions for keeping three annual feasts, and instructions for the conquest of Canaan (Ex. 23:14-19, 20-33). These words were communicated by Moses to the people (Ex. 24:3-8). Immediately, through the persons of their elders they were admitted to the fellowship of God (Ex. 24:9-11). (2) Moses was then called up to receive the tables of stone (Ex. 24:12-18). The story then divides. Moses in the mount, receives the gracious instructions concerning the tabernacle, priesthood, and sacrifice (Ex.25-31). Meantime, (Ex. 32) the people, led by Aaron, break the first commandment. Moses, returning breaks the tables “written with the finger of God” (Ex. 31:18, 32:16-19). (3) The second tables were made by Moses, and the law again written by the hand of Jehovah (Ex. 34:1, 28, 29; Duet. 10:4).

The Christian is not under the conditional Mosaic Covenant of works (the law), but under the unconditional New Covenant of Grace (Rom. 3:21-27; 6:14-15; Gal. 2:16; 3:10-14, 16-18, 24-26; 4:21-31; Heb. 10:11-17). Jesus, in His lifetime, fulfilled every law in every category. On the cross with His last breath He cried, “IT IS FINISHED”! He then went into Hell and conquered that eternal penalty for us as well. All we have to do is accept Him and the price He paid for “Whosoever is willing”!


God Bless You All,
Pastor Moser
April, 2011

W.O.W.

       The Ten Commandments

All love Me first, the Lord did say,
Unto no idol ever pray.

The Name of God in vain never say,
Keep Holy God's own sabbath day. 

For parents rule you all must care,
To murder you must never dare.

Let all your words and deeds be pure,
Steal not—God sees, you may be sure.

Be true in all you say and do,
Covet not...God says to you.

Pastor Moser's Bible, 1966